18 January 2026
Despite rain being predicted on the day, nine of us enthusiastically climbed into the van at Pukahu. We stopped off at Puketapu Park and picked up Selina, Donna and Constanze. Twelve enthusiastic and optimistic women filled the van with chat and laughter as we headed up the Puketitiri Road. The rain had begun falling but we all gathered our hopes up when, as Anthea skilfully pushed the van up the winding road and we ascended the Black Birch, we caught a glimpse of the cloud clearing and the sun shining on the Kaweka Range. Alas, it was brief for, as we descended, we were once again plummeted into the drizzly misty rain.
Wet weather gear was donned on our exit from the van at the Makahu carpark. Spirits were high as we set off, in a northerly direction, on the track to the Kaweka Flats Bivvy. We stayed fairly sheltered under the canopy of the beech forest and eventually split into three groups, dropping in and out of the gullies that held the streams, which were not yet affected in flow by the inclement weather. The final climb before the bivvy took us up a raw clay bank. It was much easier to scale in the damp conditions, having climbed it when dry, as the clay held firm under our boots.
We gathered at Kaweka Flats Bivvy, sheltering under the low scrub as we snacked. Ir was there we farewelled Glenda, Christine and Anthea, as they headed back to the carpark.
Despite the rain, the rest of us pushed forth, exiting the Flats on the track to Iron Whare. After a relativley short 45 minutes we reached the Whare, a historic and rustic hut built in the 1870s. The hut smelt dank inside and was uninviting, so we lunched on the relatively dry clearing around it. Selina took great delight in hinting about the ‘loo with a view’ as some of us sort out the convenience.
Our hike back to the van was fast, as the rain was now more persistent and most of us wanted to get back to the dry interior of the van. We split into two groups, as the faster ladies pushed on. The forest was eerily quiet as the birdlife had hunkered down, apart from a brief outburst from some very raucous kaka. In the stillness a hind was briefly spotted on the track before she darted off into the thick undergrowth. The track had turned into stream-lets as we neared the end of the track. The high spirits and sense of achievement were still evident as, one by one, we filled the van, steaming up the windows and filling it with merriment.
What was especially visible on this tramp was the support and encouragement given to the less experienced trampers by those who are equiped with the knowledge and skills. It demonstrated the true nature and purpose of the Club, and one which we should all be proud of belonging to.
Party: Lou C, Glenda H, Christine L, Anthea C, Selina C, Donna W, Judith R, Judith M, Unathi Q, Zoe B, Constanze H , Donna G